Speaker device

ABSTRACT

A speaker device includes a voice coil unit and a diaphragm linked to the voice coil unit. A first supporting unit and a second supporting unit elastically support the end portions of the voice coil unit so that the voice coil portion of the voice coil unit can vibrate within the magnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof. Each of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit has a configuration that is in a shape bent so as to extend up and bend down from an end that is fixed to a fixing position. Thus, a speaker device in which the voice coil unit can vibrate with a greater amplitude is provided.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNumber 2009-277628, filed Dec. 7, 2009, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a speaker device that outputs sound byvibrating a diaphragm which is connected to a voice coil by mutualaction between a magnetic field generated in a magnetic circuit and anaudio signal current that flows through the voice coil.

2. Description of the Related Art

Heretofore, an angular and thin-shaped speaker device has been proposed(see Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Registration ApplicationPublication No. 58-48194). This speaker device is configured so that aflat drive plate (voice coil unit) formed of a voice coil is disposedwithin a magnetic gap formed by two magnets, and one end portion of thedrive plate is attached to the back face of the flat diaphragm. Theother end portion of the drive plate is elastically supported by asupporting member so that the drive plate can vibrate within themagnetic gap in a direction parallel to the face thereof. With such aconfiguration, the drive plate vibrates in a direction parallel to theface thereof by mutual action between the audio signals supplied to thevoice coil and the magnetic flux that cuts across the magnetic gap, andsound is output corresponding to the audio signals by the flatdiaphragm, to which the vibrating drive plate is attached.

However, with the above-described current speaker device, one endportion of the drive plate (voice coil unit) is attached to the flatdiaphragm and the opposite end portion of the drive plate is elasticallysupported by a supporting member, whereby obtaining amplitude by thedrive plate (voice coil unit) in the direction parallel to the facethereof is difficult. Therefore, obtaining a loud audio output isdifficult.

The present invention takes this situation into account, and provides aspeaker device wherein the voice coil unit can vibrate with a greateramplitude.

SUMMARY

A speaker device according to one embodiment of the present inventionhas a configuration including a magnetic circuit forming a magnetic gap;a voice coil unit disposed in the magnetic gap; and a diaphragm linkedto the voice coil unit. The voice coil unit further includes a voicecoil line patterns formed on the surface of a flat flexible material,and a first supporting unit and a second supporting unit thatelastically support the voice coil unit, which are formed following bothend portions of the voice coil portion of the flat flexible material. Anend portion of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit,which is on the side opposite from the voice coil portion, is fixed to afixing position to enable vibrations of the voice coil portion withinthe magnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof and each of thefirst supporting unit and the second supporting unit elastically supportthe voice coil portion in a shape that extends up and bends down fromthe end portion that is fixed to the fixing position.

With such a configuration, each of the first supporting unit and thesecond supporting unit following from both end portions of the voicecoil portion disposed within the magnetic gap formed in the magneticcircuit are elastically supporting the voice coil portion in a form thatextends up from the end portion fixed to the fixing position and bendsdown, whereby when the voice coil portion vibrates within the magneticgap in the face direction thereof, the vibrations of the voice coilportion are maintained while deforming the bent form of each of thefirst supporting unit and the second supporting unit in accordance withthe vibrations of the voice coil portion.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein connecting pointsare formed at the edge portions fixed to the fixing position of at leastone of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit, and aline pattern following the connecting points through the voice coil linepattern is formed on the at least one of the first supporting unit andthe second supporting unit.

With such a configuration, a connecting point connected to the voicecoil line pattern is formed on at least one end portion of the firstsupporting unit and the second supporting unit fixed to the fixingposition, whereby a lead line supplying an audio signal to the voicecoil line pattern via the connecting points can be distributed withoutinfluence from the vibrations of the voice coil portion.

Also, the speaker device may have a configuration further includingpositioning members that determine the positions of parts making up themagnetic circuit, wherein the fixing positions to which the end portionsof each of the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit arefixed are set in the positioning members.

With such a configuration, the end portions of each of the firstsupporting unit and the second supporting unit that elastically supportthe voice coil portion are fixed by the positioning members thatdetermine positions of the parts making up the magnetic circuit, wherebyassembly of the magnetic circuit and the voice coil unit can be easilyperformed.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein the fixing positionsto which at least one of the edge portions of the first supportingmember and the second supporting member on which the connecting pointsare formed is fixed, is set so as to be a concave portion, and byfitting the terminal member having corresponding connecting points intothe concave portion, the audio signal from the outside is supplied tothe voice coil line pattern via the terminal member.

With such a configuration, by fitting the terminal member into theconcave portion wherein the fixing position is set, to which at leastone end portion of the first supporting unit and the second supportingunit is fixed, the audio signal is supplied to the voice coil linepattern via the terminal member, whereby the audio signal can besupplied to the voice coil line pattern without soldering.

A speaker device according to an embodiment of the present invention hasa configuration including a magnetic circuit forming a magnetic gap; avoice coil unit disposed in the magnetic gap; and a diaphragm linked tothe voice coil unit, the magnetic circuit further forming two facingmagnetic gaps. The voice coil unit includes a first voice coil portionincluding a first voice coil line pattern formed on the surface of aflat flexible material; a second voice coil portion including a secondvoice coil line pattern formed on the surface of a flat flexiblematerial; a first-first supporting unit and a second-first supportingunit which are formed following both edge portions of the first voicecoil portion of the flat flexible material, and which elasticallysupport the first voice coil portion; a first-second supporting unit anda second-second supporting unit which are formed following both edgeportions of the second voice coil portion of the flat flexible material,and which elastically support the second voice coil portion; wherein theedge portion on the side opposite from the first voice coil portion ofeach of the first-first supporting unit and the second-first supportingunit is fixed to fixing positions so as to enable vibration of the firstvoice coil portion in one of the magnetic gaps in the direction of theface thereof; wherein the edge portion on the side opposite from thesecond voice coil portion of each of the first-second supporting unitand the second-second supporting unit is fixed to fixing positions so asto enable vibration of the second voice coil portion in the other of themagnetic gaps in the direction of the face thereof; wherein each of thefirst-first supporting unit and the second-first supporting unitelastically supports the first voice coil portion in a bent shape thatextends up from the end portion fixed to the fixing position and bendsdown; and wherein each of the first-second supporting unit and thesecond-second supporting unit elastically supports the second voice coilportion in a bent shape that extends up from the end portion fixed tothe fixing position and bends down.

With such a configuration, each of the first-first supporting unit andthe second-first supporting unit following from the end portions of thefirst voice coil portion disposed in one of the magnetic gaps formed inthe magnetic circuit elastically supports the first voice coil portionin a form that extends up from the end portions fixed to the fixingposition and bends down, and each of the first-second supporting unitand the second-second supporting unit following from the end portions ofthe second voice coil portion disposed in the other of the magnetic gapsformed in the magnetic circuit elastically supports the second voicecoil portion in a form that extends up from the end portions fixed tothe fixing positions and bends down, whereby when the first voice coilportion and the second voice coil portion vibrate within the magneticgaps in the direction of the faces thereof, the vibration of the firstvoice coil portion is maintained while deforming the bent form of eachof the first-first supporting unit and the second-first supporting unitin accordance with the vibrations of the first voice coil portion, andalso, the vibration of the second voice coil portion is maintained whiledeforming the bent form of each of the first-second supporting unit andsecond-second supporting unit in accordance with the vibrations of thesecond voice coil portion.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein a connecting pointis formed on the end portion fixed to at least one of the fixingpositions of the first-first supporting unit and the second-firstsupporting unit of the voice coil unit, and a line pattern following theconnecting point through the first voice coil line pattern is formed onat least one of the first-first supporting unit and the second-firstsupporting unit including the connecting point on the end portion.

With such a configuration, a connecting point connected to the firstvoice coil line pattern is formed on at least one end portion of thefirst-first supporting unit and the second-first supporting unit fixedto the fixing position, whereby the lead line supplying the audio signalto the first voice coil line pattern via the connecting point can bedistributed without influence from the vibration of the first voice coilportion.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein a connecting pointis formed on the end portion fixed to at least one of the fixingpositions of the first-second supporting unit and the second-secondsupporting unit, and a line pattern following the connecting pointthrough the second voice coil line pattern is formed on at least one ofthe first-second supporting unit and the second-second supporting unitincluding the connecting point on the end portion.

With such a configuration, a connecting point connected to the secondvoice coil line pattern is formed on at least one end portion of thefirst-second supporting unit and the second-second supporting unit fixedto the fixing position, whereby the lead line supplying the audio signalto the second voice coil line pattern via the connecting point can bedistributed without influence from the vibration of the second voicecoil portion.

The speaker device may have a configuration further includingpositioning members that determine the position of the parts making upthe magnetic circuit, wherein the fixing positions to which the endportions of each of the first-first supporting unit and the second-firstsupporting unit are fixed, and wherein the fixing positions to which theend portions of each of the first-second supporting unit and thesecond-second supporting unit are fixed, are set in the positioningmembers.

With such a configuration, each end portion of the first-firstsupporting unit and the second-first supporting unit that elasticallysupports the first voice coil portion is fixed by the positioningmembers that determine the position of the parts making up the magneticcircuit, and also, each end portion of the first-second supporting unitand the second-second supporting unit that elastically supports thesecond voice coil portion is fixed by the positioning members thatdetermine the position of the parts making up the magnetic circuit,whereby assembly of the magnetic circuit and the voice coil unit can beperformed easily.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein the fixing positionsto which at least one of the end portions of the first-first supportingunit and the second-first supporting unit is fixed, is set into aconcave unit, and a terminal member having a corresponding connectingpoint is fit into the concave portion, whereby audio signals aresupplied from the outside via the terminal member to the first voicecoil line pattern.

With such a configuration, by fitting the terminal member into theconcave portion wherein the fixing position is fixed, to which at leastone end portion of the first-first supporting unit and the second-firstsupporting unit is fixed, the audio signal is supplied to the firstvoice coil line pattern via the terminal member without soldering.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein the fixing positionsto which at least one of the end portions of the first-second supportingunit and the second-second supporting unit whereupon the connectingpoint is formed is set into a concave unit, and a terminal member havinga corresponding connecting point is fit into the concave portion,whereby audio signals are supplied from the outside via the terminalmember to the second voice coil line pattern.

With such a configuration, by fitting the terminal member into theconcave portion wherein the fixing position is fixed, to which at leastone end portion of the first-second supporting unit and thesecond-second supporting unit is fixed, the audio signal is supplied tothe second voice coil line pattern via the terminal member withoutsoldering.

A speaker device according to an embodiment of the present invention mayhave a configuration wherein the first-first supporting unit thatfollows from one end portion of the first voice coil portion and thefirst-second supporting unit that follows from one end portion of thesecond voice coil portion are formed so as to be continuous, and theborder portion between the first-first supporting unit and thefirst-second supporting unit is fixed to the first fixing position; andthe second-first supporting unit that follows from the other end portionof the first voice coil portion and the second-second supporting unitthat follows from the other end portion of the second voice coil portionare formed so as to be continuous, and the border portion between thesecond-first supporting unit and the second-second supporting unit isfixed to the second fixing position.

With such a configuration, the first-first supporting unit and thesecond-first supporting unit following the first voice coil portion andthe first-second supporting unit and the second-second supporting unitfollowing the second voice coil portion are formed so as to becontinuous, whereby the first voice coil portion, the second voice coilportion, the first-first supporting unit, the second-first supportingunit, the first-second supporting unit, and the second-second supportingunit can be made from the same piece of flat flexible material, and theconstruction of the voice coil unit can be made simpler.

Also, each of the first-first supporting unit and the first-secondsupporting unit following one end portion of the first voice coilportion and the second voice coil portion elastically supports one endportion of the first voice coil portion and the second voice coilportion in a form that extends up from the border portions wherein thesupporting units are fixed to a first fixing position and bends down,and each of the second-first supporting unit and the second-secondsupporting unit following the other end portion of the first voice coilportion and the second voice coil portion elastically supports the otherend portion of the first voice coil portion and second voice coilportion in a form that extends up from the border portions wherein thesupporting units are fixed to a second fixing position and bends down,whereby when the voice coil portion vibrates within the magnetic gap inthe face direction thereof, the vibration of the voice coil portion ismaintained while deforming the bent form of each of the first supportingunit and the second supporting unit in accordance with the vibration ofthe voice coil portion, and the vibration of the voice coil portion ismaintained while deforming the bent form of each of the first supportingunit and the second supporting unit in accordance with the vibration ofthe voice coil portion.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein a connecting pointis formed on at least one of the border portion between the first-firstsupporting unit and the first-second supporting unit and the borderportion between the second-first supporting unit and the second-secondsupporting unit, wherein a line pattern that follows the connectingpoint through the first voice coil line pattern and the second voicecoil line pattern is formed on at least one of the first-firstsupporting unit and the first-second supporting unit and thesecond-first supporting unit and the second-second supporting unit.

With such a configuration, on at least one of the border portion betweenthe first-first supporting unit and the first-second supporting unitfixed to the first and second fixing positions and the border portionbetween the second-first supporting unit and the second-secondsupporting unit, a line pattern following the connecting point throughthe first voice coil line pattern and the second voice coil line patternis formed on at least one of the first-first supporting unit and thefirst-second supporting unit and the second-first supporting unit andthe second-second supporting unit, whereby a lead line supplying anaudio signal to the first voice coil line pattern and the second voicecoil line pattern via the connecting point can be distributed withoutinfluence from the vibration of the first voice coil portion and thesecond voice coil portion.

The speaker device may have a configuration further includingpositioning members that determine the position of the parts making upthe magnetic circuit, wherein the fixing positions to which the borderportions of each of the first-first supporting unit and the first-secondsupporting unit are fixed, and wherein the fixing positions to which theborder portions of each of the second-first supporting unit and thesecond-second supporting unit are fixed, are set in the positioningmembers.

With such a configuration, the border portion between the first-firstsupporting unit that elastically supports the first voice coil portionand the first-second supporting unit that elastically supports thesecond voice coil portion, and the border portion between thesecond-first supporting unit that elastically supports the first voicecoil portion and the second-second supporting unit that elasticallysupports the second voice coil portion, are fixed by the positioningmembers that determine the position of the parts making up the magneticcircuit, whereby assembly of the magnetic circuit and the voice coilunit can be performed easily.

The speaker device may have a configuration wherein at least one of thefirst fixing position and the second fixing position, where at least oneof the border portion between the first-first supporting unit and thefirst-second supporting unit on which the connecting point is formed,and the border portion between the second-first supporting unit and thesecond-second supporting unit is fixed, is set into a concave portion;and wherein a terminal member having a corresponding connecting point isfit into the concave portion, whereby audio signals are supplied fromthe outside via the terminal member to the first voice coil line patternand the second line pattern.

With such a configuration, by fitting the terminal member into theconcave portion wherein at least one of the first fixing position andsecond fixing position has been set, to which at least one of the borderportion between the first-first supporting unit and the second-firstsupporting unit and the border portion between the second-firstsupporting unit and the second-second supporting unit is fixed, theaudio signal is supplied to the first voice coil line pattern and thesecond voice coil line pattern via the terminal member, whereby theaudio signal can be supplied to the first voice coil line pattern andthe second voice coil line pattern without soldering.

According to these embodiments of the speaker device, when a voice coilportion vibrates within the magnetic gap in the direction of the facethereof, the vibrations of the voice coil portion are maintained whiledeforming the bent form of the first supporting unit and the secondsupporting unit in accordance with the vibrations of the voice coilportion, whereby in the amount that the bent forms of the firstsupporting unit and the second supporting unit that extend up and benddown are deformed, the amplitude of the vibrations of the first andsecond voice coil portions that are elastically supported can beincreased. Accordingly, a speaker device can be realized wherein thevoice coil unit can vibrate with a greater amplitude.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram illustrating an external view of aspeaker device unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a cross-sectionalconfiguration of the speaker device shown in FIG. 1 cut away along aline II-II;

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing a configuration of a first inneryoke;

FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram illustrating a magnetic plate;

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of a secondinner yoke;

FIG. 6A is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of a firstpositioning member;

FIG. 6B is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of asecond positioning member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram illustrating a first outer yoke and asecond outer yoke as a pair;

FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of a framemember;

FIG. 9 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of a voicecoil unit relating to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of adamper member;

FIG. 11 is a perspective diagram illustrating a diaphragm;

FIG. 12 is a perspective diagram illustrating a first horizontal edgeportion and a second horizontal edge portion;

FIG. 13A is a plan view illustrating an example of a voice coil arraypattern formed in the voice coil unit;

FIG. 13B is a plan view illustrating another example of a voice coilarray pattern formed in the voice coil unit;

FIG. 14 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration unitformed by layering the magnetic plate over the second inner yoke;

FIG. 15 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration unitformed by sandwiching the magnetic plate between the first inner yokeand the second inner yoke;

FIG. 16 is a perspective diagram illustrating a new configuration unitformed by attaching to the configuration unit shown in FIG. 15 the firstpositioning member and the second positioning member;

FIG. 17 is a perspective diagram illustrating a new configuration unitin a state wherein the first outer yoke and the second outer yoke arefurther set in the first positioning unit and the second positioningunit of the configuration unit shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective diagram showing a new configuration unit formedby attaching the frame member to the configuration unit shown in FIG.17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective diagram showing a new configuration unit formedby attaching the voice coil unit to the configuration unit shown in FIG.18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective diagram illustrating a new configuration unitformed by attaching the damper member to the configuration unit shown inFIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a partial expanded perspective diagram illustrating a fixedconfiguration of a first vertical edge unit (second vertical edge unit)and frame member in the configuration unit shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective diagram illustrating a new configuration unitformed by attaching a diaphragm to the configuration unit shown in FIG.20;

FIG. 23 is a partially expanded perspective diagram illustrating a fixedconfiguration of a damper member and diaphragm of a configuration unitshown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24A is a perspective diagram illustrating an expansion of a statewherein a second terminal unit of the voice coil unit is set in aterminal set face of a second positioning member;

FIG. 24B is a perspective diagram illustrating an expansion of a fixedconfiguration of the second terminal unit of the voice coil unit thathas been set in the terminal set face of the second positioning member;and

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a magnetic flux within a magnetic circuitin a speaker device of the configuration shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the appended diagrams. An external view of a speaker deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1.

A speaker device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an angular shaped speaker device,is configured with the parts shown in FIGS. 3 through 12, and has thecross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the speakerdevice 10 is formed by assembling the various parts of a rectangularplate-shaped metallic first inner yoke 11 shown in FIG. 3, a rectangularplate-shaped magnetic plate 12 shown in FIG. 4, a rectangularplate-shaped metallic second inner yoke 13 shown in FIG. 5, a firstpositioning member 16 a made of a non-magnetic body (for example, aresin) shown in FIG. 6A, a second positioning member 16 b made of anon-magnetic body (for example, a resin) shown in FIG. 6B, a first outeryoke 14 and a second outer yoke 15 shown in FIG. 7, a frame member 17shown in FIG. 8, a voice coil unit 18 shown in FIG. 9, a damper member19 shown in FIG. 10, a diaphragm 21 shown in FIG. 11, and a firsthorizontal edge unit 22 a and a second horizontal edge unit 22 b shownin FIG. 12.

The first inner yoke 11 (second inner yoke 13) shown in FIG. 3 (FIG. 5)has a configuration wherein positioning protrusions 111 and 112 (131 and132) are formed as a pair on one end portion of the lengthwise directionof the rectangular plate-shaped yoke main unit 110 (130), whilepositioning protrusions 113 and 114 (133 and 134) are formed as a pairon the other end portion. Spacing of each pair of the positioningprotrusions 111, 112 (131, 132) (113, 114) (133, 134), specifically, thedistance between the external side faces, are set to predeterminedlengths. The magnetic plate 12 shown in FIG. 4 is formed as arectangular plate shape having a plate face with a slightly smaller areathan the plate faces of the yoke main units 110, 130 of each of thefirst inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13.

The first positioning member 16 a shown in FIG. 6A and the secondpositioning member 16 b shown in FIG. 6B are used to determine thepositions of the first inner yoke 11, the second inner yoke 13, thefirst outer yoke 14, and the second outer yoke. The configuration of thefirst positioning member 16 a will be described below, and the secondpositioning member 16 b has the same configuration. In FIG. 6A (FIG.6B), an angular-rod shaped first horizontal spacer unit 162 a (162 b)and a second horizontal spacer unit 163 a (162 b) are formed on ahorizontal bar 160 a (160 b) so as to extend down therefrom. The spacingof the inner face 162 aa (162 ba) of the first horizontal spacer unit162 a (162 b) and the inner face 163 aa (163 ba) of the secondhorizontal spacer unit 163 a (163 b) is set to the same distance asbetween the outer side face of the protrusion pairs 111, 112 (131, 132),(113, 114), (133, 134) of each of the above-described first inner yoke11 and second inner yoke 13. Also, the width in the horizontal directionfor each of the first horizontal spacer unit 162 a (162 b) and thesecond horizontal spacer unit 163 a (163 b) is set to a valuecorresponding to the spacing that the spacers should have. Note that thewidth is determined taking into account the horizontal width of each ofthe first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 and the magneticgap Gp that is to be formed.

A rectangular-shaped vertical spacer unit 164 a (164 b) is formedbetween the first horizontal spacer unit 162 a (162 b) and the secondhorizontal spacer unit 163 a (163 b), so as to connect the generallycenter portion thereof in the vertical direction of the respective innerfaces 162 aa (162 ba), 163 aa (163 ba) thereof. The thickness in thevertical direction of the vertical spacer unit 164 a (164 b) is set to avalue that corresponds to the spacing that the spacer should have. Notethat this thickness is determined taking into account the spacing thatthe first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 are to maintain,i.e. the thickness of the magnetic plate 12. Two protruding portions 165a (165 b) and 166 a (166 b) are formed on the upper face of the verticalspacer unit 164 a (164 b), so as to extend in the direction orthogonalto the direction that the horizontal bar 160 a (160 b) extends, and inthe form whereby the upper outer edges are chamfered. The two protrudingportions 165 a (165 b) and 166 a (166 b) are positioned symmetrically onthe right and the left of the center of the upper face of the verticalspacer unit 164 a (164 b), at a predetermined spacing. With the twoprotruding portions 165 a (165 b) and 166 a (166 b), the upper face ofthe vertical spacer unit 164 a (164 b) is divided into three portions.The portion between the two protruding portions 165 a (165 b) and 166 a(166 b) becomes a terminal set face 167 a (167 b) where the terminalunit of the voice coil unit 18 is set, as described later; the portionbetween one of the protruding portions 165 a (165 b) and the firsthorizontal spacer unit 162 a (162 b) becomes a first positioning face164 aa (164 ba) for determining the position of the first inner yoke 11;and further, the portion between the other protruding portion 166 a (166b) and the second horizontal spacer unit 163 a (163 b) becomes a secondpositioning face 164 ab (164 bb) for determining the position of thefirst inner yoke 11. The spacing between one of the protruding portions165 a (165 b) and the first horizontal spacer unit 162 a (162 b) is setso as to correspond to the width of the positioning protrusion 111 (114)of the first inner yoke 11, and the spacing between the other protrusion166 a (166 b) and the second horizontal spacer unit 163 a (163 b) is setso as to correspond to the width of the positioning protrusion 112 (113)of the first inner yoke 11. The lower face of the vertical spacer unit164 a (164 b) which is on the opposite side from the upper face that isdivided into three parts as described above becomes the positioning faceto determine the position of the second inner yoke 13.

Note that an integrated outer frame unit 161 a (161 b) is formed on thehorizontal bar 160 a (160 b). The outer frame unit 161 a (161 b) islinked to the first outer edge portion 174 and the second outer edgeportion 175 of the frame member 17 to be described later, and forms anoverall rectangular-shaped frame unit.

The first outer yoke 14 and the second outer yoke 15 shown in FIG. 7 arerectangular plate shapes, and along with the first inner yoke 11, thesecond inner yoke 13, and the magnetic plate 12, make up the magneticcircuit. The frame member 17 shown in FIG. 8 is formed by extrusionmolding of metal or resin, and has a floor portion 171 having an archshape on the inner side, a first pressing unit 172 that stands upfollowing one of the end portions of the floor portion 171 and that isto press the first outer yoke 14 as will be described later, a secondpressing unit 173 that stands up following the other end portion of thefloor portion 171 and that is to press the second outer yoke 15 as willbe described later, a first outer edge portion 174 formed following thefirst pressing unit 172, and a second outer edge portion 175 formedfollowing the second pressing unit 173. The first outer edge portion 174and the second outer edge portion 175 link with the outer frame portions161 a and 161 b (see FIGS. 6A, 6B) of the first positioning member 16 aand the second positioning member 16 b as described above, to form theoverall rectangular-shaped frame unit.

The voice coil unit 18 shown in FIG. 9 is of a configuration having afirst voice coil portion 181 that is formed in a first voice coil arraypattern on the surface of a flat flexible board, a second voice coilportion 182 that is formed in a second voice coil array pattern on thesurface of the flat flexible board, a first-first supporting unit 183 athat is formed following one edge portion of the first voice coilportion 181 and that is in a bent state and elastically supports the oneedge portion of the first voice coil portion 181, a second-firstsupporting unit 183 b that is formed following the other edge portion ofthe first voice coil portion 181 and that is in a bent state andelastically supports the other edge portion of the first voice coilportion 181, a first-second supporting unit 184 a that is formedfollowing one edge portion of the second voice coil portion 182 and thatis in a bent state and elastically supports the one edge portion of thesecond voice coil portion 182, a second-second supporting unit 184 bthat is formed following the other edge portion of the second voice coilportion 182 and that is in a bent state and elastically supports theother edge portion of the second voice coil portion 182. The first-firstsupporting unit 183 a that elastically supports the one edge portion ofthe first voice coil portion 181 and the first-second supporting unit184 a that elastically supports the one edge portion of the second voicecoil portion 182 are formed so as to be continuous, and the borderportion thereof becomes a first terminal unit 185 a having a U-shapedcross-section. Also, the second-first supporting unit 183 b thatelastically supports the other edge portion of the first voice coilportion 181 and the second-second supporting unit 184 b that elasticallysupports the other edge portion of the second voice coil portion 182 areformed so as to be continuous, and the border portion thereof becomes asecond terminal unit 185 b having a U-shaped cross-section.

With the voice coil unit 18 shown in FIG. 9, the first terminal unit 185a and the second terminal unit 185 b are maintained horizontally, andthe first-first supporting unit 183 a and the second-first supportingunit 183 b follow both ends of the first voice coil portion 181 of whichthe surface is bent in a semi-circle or reverse-U-shape so as to extendup from one side of the first terminal unit 185 a and the secondterminal unit 185 b, and is vertically maintained. Also, thefirst-second supporting unit 184 a and the second-second supporting unit184 b follow both ends of the second voice coil portion 182 of which thesurface is bent in a semi-circle or reverse-U-shape so as to extend upfrom one side of the first terminal unit 185 a and the second terminalunit 185 b, and is vertically maintained. Thus, the first voice coilportion 181 that is elastically supported with the first-firstsupporting unit 183 a and the second-first supporting unit 183 b canvibrate in the direction of the face thereof (vertical direction), andthe second voice coil portion 182 that is elastically supported with thefirst-second supporting unit 184 a and the second-second supporting unit184 b can vibrate in the direction of the face thereof (verticaldirection).

The voice coil unit 18 in a state that is laid out flat is shown in FIG.13A. In FIG. 13A, a line pattern L11 is formed from the first terminalunit 185 a through the first-first supporting unit 183 a, the firstvoice coil portion 181 and the second-first supporting unit 183 b to thesecond terminal unit 185 b, and a line pattern L21 is formed from thesecond terminal unit 185 b through the second-second supporting unit 184b, the second voice coil portion 182, and the first-second supportingunit 184 a, following the line pattern L11, to return to the linepattern L11 of the first terminal unit 185 a. That is to say, the linepatterns L11 and L21 are formed circularly between the first terminalunit 185 a, the first-first supporting unit 183 a, the first voice coilportion 181, the second-first supporting unit 183 b, the second terminalunit 185 b, the second-second supporting unit 184 b, the second voicecoil portion 182, and the first-second supporting unit 184 a. Also, onthe outer side of the line patterns L11 and L21 which connectcircularly, a line pattern L12 is formed from the first terminal unit185 a through the first-first supporting unit 183 a, the first voicecoil portion 181 and the second-first supporting unit 183 b to thesecond terminal unit 185 b, and a line pattern L22 is formed from thesecond terminal unit 185 b through the second-second supporting unit 184b, the second voice coil portion 182, and the first-second supportingunit 184 a, following the line pattern L12, to return to the linepattern L12 of the first terminal unit 185 a. That is to say, the linepatterns L12 and L22 are similarly formed circularly on the outer sideof the line patterns L11 and L21 which connect circularly.

Two pairs of connecting points are formed on the first terminal unit 185a, and an audio signal is supplied to one pair of connecting points sothat audio signal current flows to the line pattern L11 formed in thefirst voice coil portion 181 and the line pattern L21 formed in thesecond voice coil portion 182. Also, an audio signal is supplied to theother pair of connecting points so that audio signal current flows inthe opposite direction from the audio current that flows in linepatterns L11 and L21, to the line pattern L12 formed in the first voicecoil portion 181 and the line pattern L22 formed in the second voicecoil portion 182.

By forming the voice coil unit 18 of a laid-open configuration as shownin FIG. 13A to be in a form shown in FIG. 9, two line patterns L11 andL12 are arrayed above and below on the first voice coil portion 181, anda first voice coil line pattern 186 is configured with these linepatterns L11 and L12. Also, two line patterns L21 and L22 are arrayedabove and below on the second voice coil portion 182, and a second voicecoil line pattern 187 is configured with these line patterns L21 andL22.

A line pattern such as shown in FIG. 13B can also be formed on the voicecoil unit 18. In FIG. 13B which shows the voice coil unit 18 in a statethat is laid out flat, a line pattern L11 is formed from the firstterminal unit 185 a through the first-first supporting unit 183 a andthe first voice coil portion 181 to the end portion of the first voicecoil unit 181, and a line pattern L12 is formed from the end portion ofthe first voice coil portion 181, following the line pattern L11,through the first voice coil portion 181 and the first-first supportingunit 183 a, to return to the first terminal unit 185 a. That is to say,the line patterns L11 and L12 are formed in a ring shape through thefirst terminal unit 185 a, the first-first supporting unit 183 a, andfirst voice coil portion 181. Also, a line pattern L21 is formed fromthe second terminal unit 185 b through the second-second supporting unit184 b and the second voice coil portion 182, to the end portion of thesecond voice coil unit, and a line pattern L22 is formed from the endportion of the second voice coil portion 182, following the line patternL21, through the second voice coil portion 182 and the second-secondsupporting unit 184 b, to return to the second terminal unit 185 b. Thatis to say, the line patterns L21 and L22 are formed in a ring shapethrough the second terminal unit 185 b, the second-second supportingunit 184 b, and the second voice coil portion 182.

A pair of connecting points is formed on the first terminal unit 185 a,and an audio signal is supplied to the connecting points making up thispair, whereby audio current flows in opposite directions in the linepatterns L11 and L12 that are formed in a ring shape. Also, a pair ofconnecting points is formed on the second terminal unit 185 b, and anaudio signal is supplied to the connecting points making up this pair,whereby audio current flows in opposite directions in the line patternsL21 and L22 that are formed in a ring shape.

In the case that the voice coil unit 18 in the laid-open configurationas shown in FIG. 13B is formed into the shape shown in FIG. 9, two linepatterns L11 and L12 are arrayed above and below on the first voice coilportion 181, similar to the case of the voice coil unit 18 in theconfiguration shown in FIG. 13A, and the first voice coil line pattern188 is configured by the line patterns L11 and L12. Also, the two linepatterns L21 and L22 are arrayed above and below on the second voicecoil portion 182, and the second voice coil line pattern 189 isconfigured by the line patterns L21 and L22.

The damper member 19 shown in FIG. 10 is formed by extrusion molding ofresin, and has a damper main unit 190 formed in a wave form, a firstsupporting unit 191 a formed in an arch shape that follows one of theouter side edge portions of the damper main unit 190, and a secondsupporting unit 191 b formed in an arch shape that follows the otherouter side edge portion of the damper main unit 190. A first fittinggroove 192 a is formed in the border portion of the damper main unit 190and the first supporting unit 191 a so as to extend in the lengthwisedirection, and a second fitting groove 192 b is formed in the borderportion of the damper main unit 190 and the second supporting unit 191 bso as to extend in the lengthwise direction.

The diaphragm 21 shown in FIG. 11 is formed with a material such asresin, metal, paper, or the like, and has a diaphragm main unit 210 thatis in a slightly bent state and a first slide unit 211 and a secondslide unit 212 that slide and fit into the first fitting groove 192 aand the second fitting groove 192 b of the damper member 19 on bothouter edges of the diaphragm main unit 210.

The first horizontal edge portion 22 a and the second horizontal edgeportion 22 b shown in FIG. 12 are formed with a resin or the like, andas described above, has outer frame units 161 a and 161 b of the firstpositioning member 16 a and the second positioning member 16 b, and edgeengaging portions 221 a and 221 b that engage so as to link to the firstvertical edge portion 20 a and the second vertical edge portion 20 bthat are fixed in the first outer edge portion 174 and the second outeredge portion 175 on both end portions in the lengthwise direction of therectangular-shaped frame unit formed by the first outer edge portion 174and the second outer edge portion 175 of the frame member 17 linkingtogether. Also, edge cover portions 222 a and 222 b that fill in thespaces between the diaphragm 19 are formed so as to extend over theinner side of the edge engaging portions 221 a and 221 b.

The parts configured as described above (see FIGS. 3 through 12) areassembled as follows, whereby the speaker device 10 shown in FIG. 1 canbe formed.

As shown in FIG. 14, a magnetic plate 12 is layered over a second inneryoke 13, and further, as shown in FIG. 15, a first inner yoke 11 islayered over the magnetic plate 12, whereby the magnetic plate 12 issandwiched between the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13.Note that at this time, the magnetic plate 12 is in a demagnetizedstate. Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the first inner yoke 11 and the secondinner yoke 13 which are in the state of sandwiching the magnetic plate12 are subjected to positioning by the first positioning member 16 a andthe second positioning member 16 b. Specifically, the positioningprotrusion 111 of the first inner yoke 11 is subjected to positioning bythe inner face 162 aa of the first horizontal spacer unit 162 a and thefirst positioning face 164 aa of the vertical spacer unit 164 a (seeFIG. 6A), in the state of being sandwiched between the first horizontalspacer unit 162 a and the protruding portion 165 a of the verticalspacer unit 164 a of the first positioning member 16 a, and thepositioning protrusion 112 of the first inner yoke 11 is subjected topositioning by the inner face 163 aa of the second horizontal spacerunit 163 a and the second positioning face 164 ab of the vertical spacerunit 164 a (see FIG. 6A), in the state of being sandwiched between thesecond horizontal spacer unit 163 a and the protruding portion 166 a ofthe vertical spacer unit 164 a of the first positioning member 16 a.Also, the positioning protrusion 113 of the first inner yoke 11 issubjected to positioning by the inner face 163 ba of the secondhorizontal spacer unit 163 b and the second positioning face 164 bb ofthe vertical spacer unit 164 b (see FIG. 6B), in the state of beingsandwiched between the second horizontal spacer unit 163 b and theprotruding portion 166 b of the vertical spacer unit 164 b of the secondpositioning member 16 b, and the positioning protrusion 114 of the firstinner yoke 11 is subjected to positioning by the inner face 162 ba ofthe first horizontal spacer unit 162 b and the first positioning face164 ba of the vertical spacer unit 164 b (see FIG. 6B), in the state ofbeing sandwiched between the first spacer unit 162 b and the protrudingportion 165 b of the vertical spacer unit 164 b of the secondpositioning member 16 b.

Further, although not clearly shown in FIG. 16, the second inner yoke 13is also subjected to positioning by the first positioning member 16 aand the second positioning member 16 b, similar to the first inner yoke11. That is to say, the positioning protrusion 131 of the second inneryoke 13 is subjected to positioning by the inner face 162 aa of thefirst horizontal spacer unit 162 a and the lower face of the verticalspacer unit 164 a in the first positioning member 16 a (see FIG. 6A),and the positioning protrusion 132 of the second inner yoke 13 issubjected to positioning by the inner face 163 aa of the secondhorizontal spacer unit 163 a and the lower face of the vertical spacerunit 164 b in the first positioning member 16 a (see FIG. 6A). Also, thepositioning protrusion 133 of the second inner yoke 13 is subjected topositioning by the inner face 163 ba of the second horizontal spacerunit 163 b and the lower face of the vertical spacer unit 164 b in thesecond positioning member 16 b, and the positioning protrusion 134 ofthe second inner yoke 13 is subjected to positioning by the inner face162 ba of the first horizontal spacer unit 162 b and the lower face ofthe vertical spacer unit 164 in the second positioning member 16 b.

Thus, the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 havingsandwiched the magnetic plate 12 are subjected to positioning in thehorizontal direction by the first positioning member 16 a and the secondpositioning member 16 b, and the spacing between the first inner yoke 11and the second inner yoke 13 is maintained at a thickness of thevertical spacer units 164 a and 164 b (corresponding to the thickness ofthe magnetic plate 12).

In such a state, as shown in FIG. 17, the first outer yoke 14 is pushedagainst the first horizontal spacer unit 162 a of the first positioningmember 16 a and the second horizontal spacer unit 163 b of the secondposition determining member 16 b, and the second outer yoke 15 is pushedagainst the second horizontal spacer unit 163 a of the first positiondetermining member 16 a and the first horizontal spacer unit 162 b ofthe second positioning member 16 b. Thus, the space between each of thepositioning protrusions 111, 113, 131, and 133 of the first inner yoke11 and the second inner yoke 13 and the plate face of the first outeryoke 14 is held at a spacing equivalent to the width of the firsthorizontal spacer unit 162 a of the first positioning member 16 a andthe second horizontal spacer unit 163 b of the second positioning member16 b, and the space between each of the positioning protrusions 112,114, 132, and 134 of the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke13 and the plate face of the second outer yoke 15 is held at a spacingequivalent to the width of the second horizontal spacer unit 163 a ofthe first positioning member 16 a and the first horizontal spacer unit162 b of the second positioning member 16 b. Consequently, as shown inthe details of FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 17, a magnetic gap Gp is formedbetween the plate face of the first outer yoke 14 and one of the sideend faces of each of the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke13, and a magnetic gap Gp is formed between the plate face of the secondouter yoke 15 and the other side end face of each of the first inneryoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13.

Next, the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 subjected topositioning by the first positioning member 16 a and the secondpositioning member 16 b in the state of sandwiching the magnetic plate12, and the first outer yoke 14 and the second outer yoke 15, arecontained within the frame member 17, as shown in detail in FIG. 2 aswell as in FIG. 18. The floor portion 171 of the frame member 17 pressesthe second inner yoke 13 against the vertical spacer units 164 a and 164b of the first positioning member 16 a and the second positioning member16 b, and the first pressing unit 172 and the second pressing unit 173of the frame member 17 sandwiches the first outer yoke 14 and the secondouter yoke 15, whereby the first outer yoke 14 is pressed by the firsthorizontal spacer unit 162 a of the first positioning member 16 a andthe second horizontal spacer unit 163 b of the second positiondetermining unit 16 b, and the second outer yoke 15 is pressed by thesecond horizontal spacer unit 163 a of the first positioning member 16 aand the first spacer unit 162 b of the second positioning member 16 b.Thus, the magnetic plate 12, the first inner yoke 11, the second inneryoke 13, the first outer yoke 14, and the second outer yoke 15 whichmake up the magnetic circuit are integrated along with the firstpositioning member 16 a and the second positioning member 16 b.

The ends of the first outer edge portion 174 of the frame member 17engage with one end of the outer frame unit 161 a of the firstpositioning member 16 a and one end of the outer frame unit 161 b of thesecond positioning member 16 b, and the ends of the second outer edgeportion 175 of the frame member 17 engage with the other end of theouter frame unit 161 a of the first positioning member 16 a and theother end of the outer frame unit 161 b of the second positioning member16 b. Thus, the magnetic circuit made up of the magnetic plate 12, thefirst inner yoke 11, the second inner yoke 13, the first outer yoke 14,and the second outer yoke 15 is surrounded by a frame unit that is madeup of the first outer edge portion 174 and the second outer edge portion175 of the frame member 17, the outer frame unit 161 a of the firstpositioning member 16 a, and the outer frame unit 161 b of the secondpositioning member 16 b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 19, the voice coil unit 18 is set in theabove-described magnetic circuit (see FIG. 9). Specifically, a firstvoice coil portion 181 of the voice coil unit 18 is disposed within amagnetic gap Gp which is formed between one of the side end faces ofeach of the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 and theplate face of the first outer yoke 14, and a second voice coil portion182 is disposed within a magnetic gap Gp which is formed between theother side end faces of each of the first inner yoke 11 and the secondinner yoke 13 and the plate face of the second outer yoke 15 (see FIG.2). A first terminal unit 185 a is fixed to a terminal set face 167 abetween the two protruding portions 165 a and 166 a of the verticalspacer unit 164 a (see FIG. 6A) in the first positioning member 16 a,and a second terminal unit 185 b is fixed to a terminal set face 167 bbetween the two protruding portions 165 b and 166 b of the verticalspacer unit 165 b (see FIG. 6B) in the second positioning member 16 b.In this state, the first voice coil unit 181 that is disposed within themagnetic gap Gp which is formed between one side end face of each of thefirst inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 and the plate face ofthe first outer yoke 14 has both end portions elastically supported bythe first-first supporting unit 183 a that is in a shape bent so as toextend up from the first terminal portion 185 a and bend down, and asecond-first supporting unit 183 b that is in a shape bent so as toextend up from the second terminal portion 185 b and bend down, and canvibrate within the magnetic gap Gp in the direction of the face thereof(vertical vibration). Also, the second voice coil unit 182 that isdisposed within the magnetic gap Gp which is formed between the otherside end face of each of the first inner yoke 11 and the second inneryoke 13 and the plate face of the second outer yoke 15 has both endportions elastically supported by the first-second supporting unit 184 athat is in a shape bent so as to extend up from the first terminalportion 185 a and bend down, and a second-second supporting unit 184 bthat is in a shape bent so as to extend up from the second terminalportion 185 b and bend down, and can vibrate within the magnetic gap Gpin the direction of the face thereof (vertical vibration).

Note that as shown in FIG. 2, the line pattern L11 of a first voice coilline pattern 186 (188) formed in the first voice coil portion 181 isarrayed between one of the side end faces of the first inner yoke 11 andthe plate face of the first outer yoke 14, and the line pattern L12 ofthe first voice coil line pattern 186 (188) is arrayed between one ofthe side end faces of the second inner yoke 13 and the plate face of thefirst outer yoke 14. Also, the line pattern L21 of a second voice coilline pattern 187 (189) formed in the second voice coil portion 182 isarrayed between the other side end face of the first inner yoke 11 andthe plate face of the second outer yoke 15, and the line pattern L22 ofthe second voice coil line pattern 187 (189) is arrayed between theother side end face of the second inner yoke 13 and the plate face ofthe second outer yoke 15.

Next, as shown in FIG. 20, a damper member 19 is attached. A firstvertical edge portion 20 a following a first supporting unit 191 a thatis formed on one of the outer edge portions of the damper member 19 isfixed to the first outer edge portion 174 of the frame member 17, and asecond vertical edge portion 20 b following a second supporting unit 191b that is formed on the other outer edge portion of the damper member 19is fixed to the second outer edge portion 175 of the frame member 17(see FIG. 2). Thus, the damper member 19 is provided between the firstouter edge portion 174 and second outer edge portion 175 of the framemember 17 so as to cover the magnetic circuit and the voice coil unit18.

Fixing the damper member 19 to the frame member 17 is performed,specifically, by sliding to fit the first fitting groove 20 aa of thefirst vertical edge unit 20 a onto the first outer edge portion 174 ofthe frame member 17, and similarly sliding to fit the second fittinggroove 20 ba of the second vertical edge unit 20 b onto the second outeredge portion 175 on the opposite side of the frame member 17, as shownexpanded in FIG. 21.

When the damper member 19 is attached, the leading edge portion of thefirst voice coil portion 181 extruding from the magnetic gap Gp is fixedto the border portion between the damper main unit 190 and the firstsupporting unit 191 a (the portion forming the first fitting groove 192a) with an adhesive agent, as shown in FIG. 2. Also, the leading edgeportion of the second voice coil portion 182 extruding from the magneticgap Gp is fixed to the border portion between the damper main unit 190and the second supporting unit 191 b (the portion forming the secondfitting groove 192 b) with an adhesive agent. Thus, the entire voicecoil unit 18 is elastically supported by the damper member 19.

Next, as shown in FIG. 22, the diaphragm 21 is attached to the dampermember 19. Specifically, as shown expanded in FIG. 23 as well as FIG.21, a first sliding unit 211 of the diaphragm 21 is slid to fit into thefirst fitting groove 192 a formed in the border portion between thedamper main unit 190 and the first supporting unit 191 a. Also, a secondsliding unit 212 of the diaphragm 21 is similarly slid to fit into thesecond fitting groove 192 b formed in the border portion between thedamper main unit 190 and the second supporting unit 191 b. Thus, thediaphragm 21 is fixed to the damper member 19 (damper main unit 190).Also, as described above, the leading end portion of the first voicecoil portion 181 of the voice coil unit 18 is adhered to the borderportion between the damper main unit 190 and the first supporting unit191 a with an adhesive agent, and also, the leading end portion of thesecond voice coil portion 182 of the voice coil unit 18 is adhered tothe border portion between the damper main unit 190 and the secondsupporting unit 191 b with an adhesive agent (see FIG. 2), whereby thevoice coil unit 18 (first voice coil portion 181, second voice coilportion 182) are constructed to link to the diaphragm 21, and thevibrations of the voice coil unit 18 transmit to the diaphragm 21.

Lastly, as shown in FIG. 1, the first horizontal edge portion 22 a andthe second horizontal edge portion 22 b are attached, and the assemblyof the various parts is ended. Specifically, the outer frame portions161 a and 161 b of the first positioning member 16 a and the secondpositioning member 16 b and the first outer edge unit 174 and the secondouter edge unit 175 of the frame member 17 are linked to form arectangular-shaped frame (see FIG. 22). The edge engaging portion 221 aof the first horizontal edge unit 22 a is fixed to the end portion onthe outer frame unit 161 a side of the first positioning member 16 a ofthis frame, and the edge engaging portion 221 b of the second horizontaledge unit 22 b is fixed to the end portion on the outer frame unit 161 bside of the second positioning member 16 b of the frame. Thus, the edgeengaging portions 221 a and 222 a are linked to the first vertical edgeportion 20 a and the second vertical edge portion 20 b, and the edgecover units 222 a and 222 b link to the diaphragm 21 and the end edge ofthe damper member 19 (first supporting unit 191 a and second supportingunit 191 b).

When the various parts are thus assembled, the magnetic plate ismagnetized. When the magnetic plate 12 is magnetized, the first inneryoke 11, the second inner yoke 13, the first outer yoke 14, and thesecond outer yoke 15 are drawn to the magnetic plate 12, and these arestrongly integrated along with the first positioning member 16 a and thesecond positioning member 16 b. However, it should be noted that themagnetic gap Gp between one of the side end faces of each of the firstinner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13 and the plate face of thefirst outer yoke 14, and the magnetic gap Gp between the other side endfaces of each of the first inner yoke 11 and the second inner yoke 13and the plate face of the second outer yoke 15 are accurately maintainedby the first positioning member 16 a and the second positioning member16 b.

Note that the parts that are assembled as described above may beadhesively fixed with an adhesive agent as needed before the magneticplate 12 is magnetized.

The electrical connection with the audio signal output circuit of thevoice coil unit 18 is as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B. Note that FIGS. 24Aand 24B show an expanded view of the configuration of the secondterminal unit 185 b of the voice coil unit 18, and the first terminalunit 185 a of the voice coil unit 18 has the same configuration. Notethat in this case, a voice coil line pattern (first voice coil linepattern 188, second voice coil line pattern 189) such as shown in FIG.13B, for example, is formed in the first voice coil portion 181 and thesecond voice coil portion 182 of the voice coil unit 18.

In FIG. 24A, in the U-shape formed by the two protruding portions 165 band 166 b and the terminal set face 167 b of the vertical spacer unit164 b of the second positioning member 16 b (fixed position), the secondterminal unit 185 b is set in the border portion between thesecond-first supporting unit 183 b following the first voice coilportion 181 and the second-second supporting portion 184 b following thesecond voice coil portion 182. A pair of connecting points C of thesecond voice coil line pattern 189 are formed on the second terminalunit 185 b so as to be exposed. A coupler terminal 30 is connected tothe leading edge of a lead line 31 extending from the audio signaloutput circuit. The coupler terminal 30 is made of resin and has anexterior shape that matches the U-shaped second terminal unit 185 b ofthe voice coil unit 18. As shown in FIG. 24B, when the coupler terminal30 is inserted into the second terminal unit 185 b that is set in aU-shape formed with the two protruding portions 165 b and 166 b and theterminal set face 167 b of the vertical spacer unit 164 b of the secondpositioning member 16 b, a connecting point (not shown) that becomes apair following the lead line 31 of the coupler terminal 30 is pressed tomake contact with the connecting points C of the second terminal unit185 b. Thus, the lead line 31 and the second voice coil line pattern 189are electrically connected, and the audio signal supplied from the audiosignal output circuit through the lead line 31 is supplied to the secondvoice coil line pattern 189 via the connecting points C of the secondterminal unit 185 b.

As described above, although the first terminal unit 185 a on theopposite side from the second terminal unit 185 b of the voice coil unit18 is not shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, similar to the case of the secondterminal unit 185 b, a coupler terminal connected to the lead line isalso inserted into the first terminal unit 185 a that is set in aU-shape formed with the two protruding portions 165 a and 166 a and theterminal set face 167 a of the vertical spacer unit 164 a of the firstpositioning member 16 a. Thus, the audio signal supplied from the audiosignal output circuit through the lead line 31 is supplied to the firstvoice coil line pattern 188 formed on the first voice coil portion 181via the connecting points of the first terminal unit 185 a.

The same audio signal can be supplied in parallel to the first voicecoil line pattern 188 formed in the first voice coil portion 181 and thesecond voice coil line pattern 189 formed in the second voice coilportion 182. Also, audio signals of frequency features (e.g., for highersounds and for lower sounds) that differ for the first voice coil linepattern 188 and the second voice coil line pattern 189 can be supplied.Further, audio signals (e.g. vocal audio and instrumental audio) thatdiffer for the first voice coil line pattern 188 and the second voicecoil line pattern 189 can be supplied.

Note that even in a case that a voice coil line pattern (first voicecoil line pattern 186, second voice coil line pattern 187) such as shownin FIG. 13A, for example, is formed in the first voice coil portion 181and the second voice coil portion 182 of the voice coil unit 18, byfitting a similar coupler terminal into the first terminal unit 185 a orthe second terminal unit 185 b of the voice coil unit 18, audio signalscan be supplied to the first voice coil line pattern 186 and the secondvoice coil line pattern 187 via the two pairs of connecting points. Notethat a dummy coupler terminal can be inserted into a first terminal unit185 a or a second terminal unit 185 b to which audio signals are notsupplied.

A magnetic flux is generated, as shown in FIG. 25, in the magneticcircuit (magnetic plate 12, first inner yoke 11, second inner yoke 13,first outer yoke 14, and second outer yoke 15). In FIG. 25, the magneticflux from the North pole side of the magnetic plate 12 travels from oneside face of the first inner yoke 11, cuts across the magnetic gap Gp,arrives at the first outer yoke 14, and the magnetic flux having passedthrough the first outer yoke 14 travels from the first outer yoke 14,cuts across the magnetic gap Gp, arrives at one side end face of thesecond inner yoke 13, and returns to the South pole side of the magneticplate 12. Also, the magnetic flux from the North pole side of themagnetic plate 12 travels from the other side end face of the firstinner yoke 11, cuts across the magnetic gap Gp, arrives at the secondouter yoke 15, and the magnetic flux having passed through the secondouter yoke 15 travels from the second outer yoke 15, cuts across themagnetic gap Gp, arrives at the other side end face of the second inneryoke 13, and returns to the South pole side of the magnetic plate 12.

An audio signal is supplied to the first voice coil line pattern 186(L11, L12) and the second voice coil line pattern 187 (L21, L22) of thevoice coil unit 18 via the coupler terminal 30 in the state that themagnetic flux is formed in the magnetic circuit as shown in FIG. 25. InFIG. 25, the magnetic flux that cuts across the magnetic gap Gp formedbetween one of the side end faces of the first inner yoke 11 and theplate face of the first outer yoke 14, and the magnetic flux that cutsacross the magnetic gap Gp formed between one of the side end faces ofthe second inner yoke 13 and the plate face of the first outer yoke 14,go in opposite directions, but the direction of the audio currentflowing between the line pattern L11 and the line pattern L12 of thefirst voice coil line pattern 186 arrayed within each magnetic gap Gpalso goes in opposite directions, whereby within the face of the firstvoice coil portion 181, force acts in the same direction on the linepattern L11 and line pattern L12 by mutual action of the magnetic fluxwithin the magnetic gap Gp and the audio signal current, and the firstvoice coil portion 181 vibrates in the direction of the face thereof(vertical direction) Dv according to the audio signal.

Also, in FIG. 25, the magnetic flux that cuts across the magnetic gap Gpformed between the other side end face of the first inner yoke 11 andthe plate face of the second outer yoke 15, and the magnetic flux thatcuts across the magnetic gap Gp formed between the other side end faceof the second inner yoke 13 and the plate face of the second outer yoke15, similarly go in opposite directions. In this case also, thedirection of the audio current flowing between the line pattern L21 andthe line pattern L22 of the second voice coil line pattern 187 arrayedwithin each magnetic gap Gp also goes in opposite directions, wherebyforce operates in the same direction within the face of the second voicecoil unit 182 on the line pattern L21 and line pattern L22 by the mutualaction of the magnetic flex within the magnetic gap Gp and the audiosignal current, and the second voice coil portion 182 vibrates accordingto the audio signal, similar to the first voice coil portion 181, in theface direction thereof (vertical direction) Dv.

With the vertical direction Dv vibrations of the first voice coilportion 181 and the second voice coil portion 182 according to the audiosignal, the diaphragm 21 which is linked to the voice coil portions 181and 182 vibrates according to the audio signal. Consequently, soundcorresponding to the audio signal is output.

With the speaker device 10 according to the first embodiment asdescribed above, the first-first supporting unit 183 a and thesecond-first supporting unit 183 b following the first voice coilportion 181 and the first-second supporting unit 184 a and thesecond-second supporting unit 184 b following the second voice coilportion 182 are formed so as to be continuous, whereby the first voicecoil portion 181, the second voice coil portion 182, the first-firstsupporting unit 183 a, the second-first supporting unit 183 b, thefirst-second supporting unit 184 a, the second-second supporting unit184 b, the first terminal unit 185 a, and the second terminal unit 185 bcan be made of a single flat piece of flexible material, and theconfiguration of the voice coil unit 18 can become simpler.

Also, the first-first supporting unit 183 a and the first-secondsupporting unit 184 a that follow from one end portion of the firstvoice coil portion 181 and the second voice coil portion 182 elasticallysupport one end portion of the first voice coil portion 181 and thesecond voice coil portion 182 in a shape bent so as to extend up fromthe first terminal unit 185 a which is fixed to the first positioningmember 16 a, and to bend down, and the second-first supporting unit 183b and the second-second supporting unit 184 b that follow from the otherend portion of the first voice coil portion 181 and the second voicecoil portion 182 elastically support the other end portion of the firstvoice coil portion 181 and the second voice coil portion 182 in a shapebent so as to extend up from the second terminal unit 185 b which isfixed to the second positioning member 16 b, and to bend down, wherebyin the event that the first voice coil portion 181 and the second voicecoil portion 182 vibrate within the magnetic gap Gp in the direction ofthe faces thereof, each of the first-first supporting unit 183 a and thesecond-first supporting unit 183 b are subject to the bent shape beingdeformed in accordance with the vibrations of the first voice coilportion 181 while the vibrations of the first voice coil portion 181 aremaintained, and also, each of the first-second supporting unit 184 a andthe second-second supporting unit 184 b are subject to the bent shapebeing deformed in accordance with the vibrations of the second voicecoil portion 182 while the vibrations of the second voice coil portion182 are maintained.

Thus, in the event of the first voice coil portion 181 and the secondvoice coil portion 182 vibrating within the magnetic gap Gp in the facedirections thereof, each of the first-first supporting unit 183 a andthe second-first supporting unit 183 b and the first-second supportingunit 184 a and the second-second supporting unit 184 b are subject tothe bent shape being deformed in accordance with the vibrations of thefirst and second voice coil portions 181 and 182 while the vibrations ofthe first voice coil portions 181 and 182 are maintained, whereby in theamount that the bent shape of the various supporting units 183 a, 183 b,184 a, and 184 b are deformed, the amplitude of the vibrations of thefirst and second voice coil portions 181 and 182 that are elasticallysupported can be increased. Accordingly, the voice coil unit 18 (firstvoice coil portion 181, second voice coil portion 182 a) can vibratewith a greater amplitude.

Also, in the magnetic circuit, the positioning of the first inner yoke11, the second inner yoke, the first outer yoke 14, and the second outeryoke 15 are determined by the first positioning member 16 a and thesecond positioning member 16 b so that the magnetic gap Gp is formed,and the magnetic plate 12, the first inner yoke 11, the second inneryoke 13, the first outer yoke 14, and the second outer yoke 15 are in anintegrated configuration, whereby the magnetic circuit can be assembledwith good workability by the first positioning member 16 a and thesecond positioning member 16 b. Further, other parts are attached to thefirst positioning member 16 a and the second positioning member 16 b,specifically, the frame member 17, the voice coil unit 18, and the firsthorizontal edge portion 22 a and the second horizontal edge portion 22b, whereby assembly workability is further improved.

Also, an electrical connection with the audio signal output circuit ofthe voice coil unit 18 is made by the coupler terminal 30 that is fitinto the first terminal unit 185 a and the second terminal unit 185 b ofthe voice coil unit 18 which has been set in the first and secondpositioning members 16 a and 16 b (see FIGS. 24A and 24B), wherebyelectrical connections thereof can be made without soldering. Laying ofthe lead lines as to the voice coil unit 18 becomes simpler, andassembly is easier. Further, unnecessary load, such as being pulled bythe lead line to the voice coil unit 18, can be prevented.

Note that with the speaker device according to the embodiment asdescribed above, the first voice coil portion 181 and the second voicecoil portion 182 are disposed in two magnetic gaps Gp (see FIG. 2), buta magnetic circuit can be configured such that the voice coil portions181 and 182 are disposed in a single magnetic gap Gp. In this case, thevoice coil line pattern formed in each voice coil portion 181 and 182 isformed so as to be disposed within a single magnetic gap Gp.

Also, the voice coil unit 18 has the first voice coil portion 181 andthe second voice coil portion 182 made of a single flat flexible board(see FIGS. 13A and 13B), but a configuration may be made wherein eachare separately elastically supported. In this case, for example, thefirst-first supporting unit 183 a, the second-first supporting unit 183b, the first-second supporting unit 184 a, and the second-secondsupporting unit 184 b which elastically support the first voice coilportion 181 and the second voice coil portion 182 each may have the edgeportion thereof fixed separately.

As described above, the speaker device according to the presentinvention is advantageous in that the voice coil unit can vibrate with agreater amplitude, and is useful as a speaker device that outputs soundby causing vibration of a diaphragm which is connected to a voice coilby mutual action between a magnetic field generated in a magneticcircuit and an audio signal current that flows through the voice coil.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at presentcontemplated to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation to the teachings of the invention without departing from thecentral scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that this invention notbe limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A speaker device comprising: a magnetic circuit forming a magneticgap; a voice coil unit disposed in said magnetic gap; and a diaphragmlinked to the voice coil unit; said voice coil unit further having avoice coil portion wherein a voice coil line pattern is formed on thesurface of a flat material; and a supporting unit that elasticallysupports said voice coil portion, which is formed following an endportion of said voice coil portion of said flat material; wherein an endportion of said supporting unit which is at an opposite side from saidvoice coil portion is fixed to a fixing position to enable vibration ofsaid voice coil portion within said magnetic gap in the direction of theface thereof; and wherein the supporting unit elastically supports saidvoice coil portion in a shape that extends up and bends down from saidend portion that is fixed to said fixing position.
 2. The speaker deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a connecting point is formed at said endportion fixed to said fixing position of said supporting unit of saidvoice coil unit, and a line pattern following said connecting pointthrough said voice coil line pattern is formed on said supporting unit.3. The speaker device according to claim 1, further comprising: apositioning member that determines the positions of parts making up saidmagnetic circuit; wherein said fixing position to which said end portionof said supporting unit of said voice coil unit is fixed is set in saidpositioning member.
 4. The speaker device according to claim 2, whereinsaid fixing position to which said end portion of said supporting unitof said voice coil unit on which said connecting point is formed isfixed, is set so as to be a concave portion; and wherein, by fitting aterminal member having a connecting point to make contact with saidconnecting point in said concave portion, an audio signal is supplied tosaid voice coil line pattern via the terminal member.
 5. A speakerdevice comprising: a magnetic circuit forming a magnetic gap; a voicecoil unit disposed in said magnetic gap; and a diaphragm linked to thevoice coil unit; said magnetic circuit further forming two facingmagnetic gaps; and said voice coil unit further having a first voicecoil portion comprising a first voice coil line pattern on the surfaceof a flat flexible material; a second voice coil portion comprising asecond voice coil line pattern on the surface of a flat flexiblematerial; a first-first supporting unit and a second-first supportingunit which is formed following edge portions of said first voice coilportion of said flat flexible material, and which elastically supportsaid first voice coil unit; a first-second supporting unit and asecond-second supporting unit which is formed following edge portions ofsaid second voice coil portion of said flat flexible material, and whichelastically support said second voice coil unit; wherein an edge portionof each of said first-first supporting unit and said second-firstsupporting unit on a side opposite from said first voice coil portion isfixed to a fixing position so as to enable vibration of said first voicecoil portion in one of the magnetic gaps in the direction of the facethereof; wherein an edge portion of each of said first-second supportingunit and said second-second supporting unit on a side opposite from saidsecond voice coil portion is fixed to a fixing position so as to enablevibration of said second voice coil portion in the other of the magneticgaps in the direction of the face thereof; wherein each of saidfirst-first supporting unit and said second-first supporting unitelastically supports said first voice coil unit in a bent shape thatextends up from said end portion fixed to said fixing position and bendsdown; and wherein each of said first-second supporting unit and saidsecond-second supporting unit elastically supports said second voicecoil unit in a bent shape that extends up from said end portion fixed tosaid fixing position and bends down.
 6. The speaker device according toclaim 5, wherein a connecting point is formed on said end portion fixedto at least one of said fixing positions of said first-first supportingunit and said second-first supporting unit of said first voice coilportion, and a line pattern following said connecting point through saidfirst voice coil line pattern is formed on at least one of saidfirst-first supporting unit and said second-first supporting unit
 7. Thespeaker device according to claim 5, wherein a connecting point isformed on said end portion fixed to at least one of said fixingpositions of said first-second supporting unit and said second-secondsupporting unit of said second voice coil portion, and a line patternfollowing said connecting point through said second voice coil linepattern is formed on at least one of said first-second supporting unitand said second-second supporting unit.
 8. The speaker device accordingto claim 5, further comprising: positioning members that determine theposition of the parts making up said magnetic circuit, wherein thefixing positions to which the end portions of each of said first-firstsupporting unit and said second-first supporting unit of said firstvoice coil portion are fixed and the fixing positions to which the endportions of each of said first-second supporting unit and saidsecond-second supporting unit of said second voice coil portion arefixed, are set in said positioning members.
 9. The speaker deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein said fixing positions to which at leastone of said end portions of said first-first supporting unit and saidsecond-first supporting unit of said first voice coil portion on whichsaid connecting point is formed is fixed is set into a concave portion,and a terminal member having a connecting point to make contact withsaid connecting point is fit into said concave portion, whereby audiosignals are supplied from the outside via the terminal member to saidfirst voice coil line pattern.
 10. The speaker device according to claim7, wherein said fixing positions to which at least one of said endportions of said first-second supporting unit and said second-secondsupporting unit of said second voice coil portion on which saidconnecting point is formed is set into a concave portion, and a terminalmember having a connecting point to make contact with said connectingpoint is fit into said concave portion, whereby audio signals aresupplied from the outside via the terminal member to said second voicecoil line pattern.
 11. The speaker device according to claim 5, whereinthe first-first supporting unit that follows from one end portion ofsaid first voice coil portion and the first-second supporting unit thatfollows from one end portion of said second voice coil portion areformed so as to be continuous, and the border portion between saidfirst-first supporting unit and said first-second supporting unit isfixed to a first fixing position; and wherein the second-firstsupporting unit that follows from the other end portion of said firstvoice coil portion and the second-second supporting unit that followsfrom the other end portion of said second voice coil portion are formedso as to be continuous, and the border portion between said second-firstsupporting unit and said second-second supporting unit is fixed to asecond fixing position.
 12. The speaker device according to claim 11,wherein a connecting point is formed on at least one of said borderportions between said first-first supporting unit and said first-secondsupporting unit of said voice coil unit and said border portion betweensaid second-first supporting unit and said second-second supporting unitof said voice coil unit; and wherein the line pattern that follows saidconnecting point from said first voice coil line pattern and said secondvoice coil line pattern is formed on at least one of said first-firstsupporting unit and said first-second supporting unit and saidsecond-first supporting unit and said second-second supporting unit. 13.The speaker device according to claim 11, further comprising: apositioning member that determines the position of the parts making upsaid magnetic circuit, wherein the fixing position to which the borderportion of said first-first supporting unit and said first-secondsupporting unit of said voice coil unit are fixed, and wherein thefixing position to which the border portion of said second-firstsupporting unit and said second-second supporting unit of said voicecoil unit are fixed, are set in said positioning member.
 14. The speakerdevice according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said first fixingposition and said second fixing position, where said connecting point isformed, is set into a concave portion; and wherein a terminal memberhaving a connecting point to make contact with said connecting point isfit into said concave portion, whereby audio signals are supplied fromthe outside via the terminal member to said first voice coil linepattern and said second voice coil line pattern.
 15. A speaker devicecomprising: a magnetic circuit forming a magnetic gap; a voice coil unitdisposed in said magnetic gap; and a diaphragm linked to the voice coilunit; said voice coil unit further having a voice coil portion wherein avoice coil line pattern is formed on the surface of a flat material; anda supporting unit that elastically supports said voice coil portion,which is formed following an end portion of said voice coil portion ofsaid flat material; wherein an end portion of said supporting unit whichis at an opposite side from said voice coil portion is fixed to a fixingposition to enable vibration of said voice coil portion within saidmagnetic gap in the direction of the face thereof; and wherein thesupporting unit has a curved shape.
 16. The speaker device according toclaim 15, wherein a connecting point is formed at said end portion fixedto said fixing position of said supporting unit of said voice coil unit,and a line pattern following said connecting point through said voicecoil line pattern is formed on said supporting unit.
 17. The speakerdevice according to claim 15, further comprising: a positioning memberthat determines the positions of parts making up said magnetic circuit;wherein said fixing position to which said end portion of saidsupporting unit of said voice coil unit is fixed is set in saidpositioning member.
 18. The speaker device according to claim 16,wherein said fixing position to which said end portion of saidsupporting unit of said voice coil unit on which said connecting pointis formed is fixed, is set so as to be a concave portion; and wherein,by fitting a terminal member having a connecting point to make contactwith said connecting point in said concave portion, an audio signal issupplied to said voice coil line pattern via the terminal member.